The local Union Texas Pakistan (UTP) has found commercial quantities of gas at two deep exploration wells in the Badin concession.

The Makhdumpur Deep-1 well flowed at 15.2 million cubic feet a day (mcf/d) of gas, and the Khorewah Deep-1 well tested at 6.4 mcf/d of gas. The results confirmed an earlier find in the lowest sands of the Goru formation, under the fields UTP is already exploiting. The Turk Deep-1 well, drilled in 1994, was the first to show reserves in a deep field. A further three wells are planned for 1995 to test the deep field.

UTP is the operator of the Badin concession and holds a 30 per cent interest. Its partners are the local Oil & Gas Development Corporation, with 40 per cent, and the US-owned Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan), which holds the remaining 30 per cent. UTP is producing 20,500 barrels a day of crude, which represents 34 per cent of Pakistan's total production. It also produces 173 mcf/d of gas, equivalent to some 9 per cent of total gas production.